Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    8,139.83
    +60.97 (+0.75%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,824.16
    +222.18 (+1.13%)
     
  • AIM

    755.28
    +2.16 (+0.29%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1682
    +0.0026 (+0.22%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2493
    -0.0018 (-0.14%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    51,150.73
    -648.37 (-1.25%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,332.20
    -64.33 (-4.61%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,099.96
    +51.54 (+1.02%)
     
  • DOW

    38,239.66
    +153.86 (+0.40%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.66
    +0.09 (+0.11%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,350.40
    +7.90 (+0.34%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    37,934.76
    +306.28 (+0.81%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    17,651.15
    +366.61 (+2.12%)
     
  • DAX

    18,161.01
    +243.73 (+1.36%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,088.24
    +71.59 (+0.89%)
     

Sports car, £40,000 cash and hundreds of cannabis plants seized as part of organised crime investigation

A cannabis factory containing approximately 500 plants was discovered (Picture: Kent Police)
A cannabis factory containing approximately 500 plants was discovered (Picture: Kent Police)

Police have seized a £100,000 sports car, around £40,000 cash and hundreds of cannabis plants as part of an investigation into a suspected organised crime group.

In total 13 men were arrested on Wednesday at addresses in Ashford, Canterbury, Maidstone and Swale, as well as in Bristol, Essex, Hertfordshire and London.

The ages of the men ranged from 18 to 49.

Kent Police confirmed a cannabis factory containing approximately 500 plants was discovered at an address in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, while two smaller grows containing a total of around 450 plants were located in Ashford.

Read more: Boy, 17, guilty of murdering teaching assistant found in shallow grave

Read more: People risk lives for pictures on level crossings

ADVERTISEMENT

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Kris Eberlein said: “Disrupting organised criminality is a priority for Kent Police and we run a variety of operations to target those who bring associated criminality to Kent, including drugs but also other linked offences such as violent crime.

“The money earned through the sale of cannabis on an industrial scale is often linked to more serious criminality such as human trafficking and modern slavery, and the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

“Kent Police is committed to reducing the harm caused by all drugs and are sending out a very clear message to criminals that the sale of such illegal substances will not be tolerated.”

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, who were assisted on the day by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and Hertfordshire Constabulary.